es, act on so many different Scenes, and turn so many Wheels of
State in the World, as he has done? as a meer profess'd _Devil_ he could
do nothing.

Had he been oblig'd always to act the meer Devil in his own Clothes, and
with his own Shape, appearing uppermost in all Cafes and Places, he
could never have preach'd in so many Pulpits, presided in so many
Councils, voted in so many Committees, sat in so many Courts, and
influenc'd so many Parties and Factions in Church and State, as we have
Reason to believe he has done in our Nation, and in our Memories too, as
well as in other Nations and in more antient Times. The Share Satan has
had in all the weighty Confusions of the Times, ever since the first
Ages of Christianity in the World, has been carried on with so much
Secresy, and so much with an Air of Cabal and Intrigue, that nothing can
have been manag'd more subtilly and closely, and in the same Manner has
he acted in our Times, in order to conceal his Interest, and conceal the
Influence he has had in the Councils of the World.

Had it been possible for him to have raised the Flames of Rebellion and
War so often in this Nation, as he certainly has done? Could he have
agitated the Parties on both Sides, and inflam'd the Spirits of three
Nations, if he had appears in his own Dress, a meer naked DEVIL? It is
not the Devil as a _Devil_ that does the Mischief, but the _Devil_ in
Masquerade, _Satan_ in full Disguise, and acting at the Head of civil
Confusion and Distraction.

If History may be credited, the _French_ Court at the Time of our old
Confusions was made the Scene of Satan's Politicks, and prompted both
Parties in _England_ and in _Scotland_ also to quarrel, and how was it
done? Will any Man offer to scandalize the _Devil_ so much as to say, or
so much as to suggest that _Satan_ had no Hand in it all? Did not the
_Devil_, by the Agency of Cardinal _Richlieu_, send 400000 Crowns at one
Time, and 600000 at another, to the _Scots_, to raise an Army and march
boldly into _England?_ and did not the same _Devil_ at the same time, by
other Agents, remit 800000 Crowns to the other Party, in order to raise
an Army to fall upon the _Scots_? nay, did not the _Devil_ with the
same Subtilty send down the Archbishop's Order to impose the
Service-Book upon the People in _Scotland_, and at the same Time raise a
Mob against it, in the great Church (at St. _Giles_'s)? Nay, did not he
actually, in the Person of an old Woman (his f